Improvement in tobacco-presses



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEO JAMES V. BARBER, OF UINOINNATL OHIO,ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND ELISHA l). STOUT, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN TOBACCO-PRESSES.

Specilicatiou forming part of Letters Patent No. 55,759, dated June 19,1866. l

To all whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES W. BARBER, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county,Ohio, have invented a new and useful Mode of Pressing Tobacco; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accom panyiug drawings, making partot' this specitication.

My invention relates to a device for baling or pressing tobacco intoblocks or slabs of size and shape adapted for convenient carriage in thepocket or otherwise, and it consists in the provision, in connectionwith a suitable reciprocating packing-plan ger, of a bottomless box,trunk, or cylinder, whose transverse section corresponds with therequired shapeofthe blocks of tobacco, the plunger fitting snugly to andbeingreciprocated within only asmall partofthe length of the box, thebox receiving a charge oftobacco anda followerto separate the blocks ateach stroke ofthe plunger, the tobacco,in passingthrough the portionofthe box not traversed by the plunger, bein g retarded by the frictionagainst its sides, so as, while slowly descending, to form agradually-yielding bottom or abutment, to co-operate with the press ingaction of the plunger', the lowest stra-tum of the resisting massescaping at the open bottoni of the box in the form and condition ot' acompletely pressed block at each stroke ofthe plunger'.

My invention further consists of certain devices whereby the pressureupon the blocks of tobacco may be regulated at will.

My invention further relates to a provision whereby two cylinders can beoperated by the same plunger, one being charged while the other ispressing.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of atobaccopacking press embodying Iny invention. Fig. 2 is an axial sectionof a packingbox.

A A are the packing trunks or boxes. B is a vertically-reciprocatingplunger. rIhe boxes A A are attached to a common sliding frame, C, whichis connected by rod D to a lever, E. By the action ofthe lever E eitherof the boxes can be moved immediately under and be operated upon bytheplunger B, one being charged with tobacco while the other is beingpressed4 The use of two cylinders obviates the necessity of stopping theplunger at the top of its stroke for the purpose of charging.

The sides F F and G G of the pressingboxes may be. of wood or othersuitable material, and are connected by bolts a, the boltholes in thesides G being slotted (see Fig. 2) to allow ot' said sides beingexpanded or contracted by means of bands H and set-screws I, so as toregulate the pressure ou the tobacco. The sides G G are made shorterthan the sides F F, in order to leave an opening for the removal ofthepressed tobacco. J are followers, of wood or other suitable material,one of which is placed in the trunk with each charge of tobacco toseparate the packages.

ln the pressing action ofthe plungerB about one-third only of the depthofthe tru n k is traversed by the plunger, the friction ofthe tobaccoagainst the sides of the trunk in its passage through the remainingportion being sufficient to cause it to be tightly compressed into therequired thickness and density before escaping at the open bottom, andat the same time to constitute a gradually=yiclding abutment tocooperate with the contrary action of the plunger above. At each strokeof the plunger B the trunk is charged with tobacco and a follower, and acompressed block and follower are discharged at the other end.

To commence operation with anew machine, the trunks are tilled about asseen in Fig. 2, by hand-pressure or otherwise, a temporary bottom beingapplied to cause the blocks to receive the required form and pressurebefore the plunger B is brought into operation.

In Fig. l devices are illustrated for operating the plunger which arereserved for a distinct application for Letters Patent.

I claim herein as new and ofmy inventionl. In the described combinationwith a reciprocating' plunger, the bottomless pressing box or trunk,substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with the elements of the clause next preceding, thebands H and setscrews I, or their equivalents.

3. The arrangement ot two or more shiftable pressing-trunks, adapted tobe brought alternately or successively in connection with a singleplunger.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto Set my hand.

JAMES IV. BARBER.'

Witnesses:

GEO. H. KNIGHT, J AMES H. LAYMAN.

